Pontificating on Podcasting & Blogging

I’ve been accumulating a number of links in recent weeks about the power of podcasting, blogging and the web and it’s impact on communications and social connections. Here are some interesting articles that may provoke more thoughts and questions about where we are heading:

• Personal Relationships Expand with Use of the Web– This article suggests that web users are actually more likely to experience more traditional social interactions than non-web users. You’d think the Internet would replace social connections. Is it possible that blogging makes me more of a people-person?
• iPods Boost Prime Time– NBC and ABC are finding that making shows available on iTunes for download is increasing ratings for their shows. "The iTunes offering is bringing new audiences to the show that would not otherwise have watched." Will churches see the same impact as they begin podcasting messages? This church did…
• Podcasting Packs the Pews — This church is finding that podcasting is helping more people find the church, and, therefore, attendance is increasing at services.
• Naked Conversations on a Bus — Kathy talks about her bus ride with Robert Scoble of Microsoft. She suggests that blogging is pushing businesses like Microsoft "in lively and provocative ways" to deal with "the deadly risk-aversion that’s killing off innovation."

By the way, the biggest users of the Internet may be older than you think. The 35- to 55-year olds are leading the way. They are web savvy. That’s a challenge for us. As we’re trying to reach people who don’t attend church in that age bracket, we’re going to have to continually consider whether or not their web experiences with our church meet and exceed their expectations with what they experience in other web environments. One of our goals as a church is for people say "Wow!" when they enter our building and experience one of our weekend services. I want them to say "Wow!" when they experience our ministry on the web as well.